Sharp County record., 1887-03-10
THE PENSION VETO.
Q dependant Pension Bill Re-
ceives Black Eye.
opsls of President Cleveland's Exhaust
i've Message to Congress Explaining
His Reasons for Withholding His
signature From the Measure,

r4sH1yeToy, Feb 12-The President in
veto of the Dependent Pension bill
that the almost constant pension leg
fion since the close OF the war mas
.ed upon the pension rolls 365, 763 pen
,ers of all classes, for whom Sl5,OJO,-
have been appropriated for the current
r. and for whom SS0S, ,624 Sl1 have been
snded from 1861 to 1886. 1t is now pro-
sd to award service pensions to SOL
q of all wars at the rate OF sl2 per
tn. It exacts only service OF three
this, without requiring engagement IN
lie or subject to any actual dangers OF
The pension is allowed to men who
suffered no injury, loss or damage OF
kind due to military service, and IN
es those who never reached the front
h. The section of the bill allowing
pension is in language so uncertain as
ssubiect to unjust and mischievous
ication. The persons seeking pension
t be suffering moral or physical dis
ty, such as incapacitates from the
ormance of labor in such degree as
,nder them unable to earn a support,
must be dependent on their daily
+ for support.
ssing on to o consideration of their
itions, the President adds:
will be observed that there is no lin
on or definition of the incapacitating
" or ailment itself. 1t need only be
adsgree of disability from any cause
,nde Q the claimant unable to earn
ort by labor. 1t seems to me that the
port here mentioned as one which
lot be earned is a complete and entire
ort, with no di1ninution on account OF
east impairment of physical or men
ondition. If it had intended to en-
only those who, by disease or labor,
Totally unable to labor, it would
been very easy to express that idea,
ad Of recognizing, as is done, adegree
ch inability"
d then he asks: "What is support!
is to determine whether man earns
has it, or has it not2 Is the Govern
to enter the homes of claimants for
ions, and after an examination OF
Surroundings and circumstances,
those questions Shall the Govern
say to one man that his manner Of
stence by his earnings is a support,
to another that the things that
arnings furnish are not support!
attempt, however honest, to admin
this law in such manner, would
sarily produce more unfairness and
lmination, and give more scope for
san partiality and would result in
perverson Of the Governments be-
ent intentions than the execution OF
batute ought to permit. II the effort
.ry out the proposed law, the degree
ability as related to earnings be
lered for the purpose of showing If
yEay it curtals the support which
,plicant, if entirely sound, would
and to which he is entitled, we enter
oad field long occupied by the Pen
!ureau, and we recognize as the only
once between the proposed legisla-
-; md previous laws passed for the be-
nefit of the surviving soldiers of the civil
war, The incurrence, in one case, OF dis
abilities in military service, and in the
other disabilities existing but in no way
with, or resulting from such
service"
'It must be borne in mind that in no
case Is there any grading Of this proposed
pension. Under the operation OF the rule
first suggested, if there is a lack in any
degree, great or small, Of the ability to
earn such support as the Government de-
termncs the claimant should have, and
by the application of the rule secondly
if there is reduction in any
degree of the support which he mightcarn
II sound, he is entitled to pension OF
twelve dollars.
'sIn the latter case and under the
proviso of the proposed bill, permitting
persons now receiving pensions to be ad-
mitted to the benefits of the act, | do not
see how those now on the pension roll, for
incurred in the service and
which diminish their earning capacity,
can be denied the pension provided in this
bill.n
Another condition required of claimants
under this act is that they shall be "de-
pendent upon their daily labor for sup
port" Under the provisions Of this Sec
ton, any soldier, the President thinks,
whose faculties of mind or body have be-
come impaired by accident, disease or age,
irrespective of his service in the army, and
who by his labor only is left incapable of
gaining the fair support he might with
unimpaired powers have provided for him
self, and who is not so well endowed with
this worlds goods as to live without work,
may claim to participate in this bounty;
that it is not required that he should be
mi rtu hut hot 1oh
5 hould be necessary to his support in some
degree nor is it required that he should be
now receiving support from others.
Recent observation and experience con.
strain the President to refer to another re-
suit sure to follow the passage of this bill.
There can be no doubt, he says, that the
race after pensions offered by the bill
would not only stimulate weakness and
pretended incapacity for labor, but put
further premium on dishonesty and men,
dacity. More than this, while cost should
not be set against a patriotic duty or the
of a right; still, when meas
ure proposed is based upon generosity or
motives of charity, it is not amiss to medi-
tate somewhat upon the expense it in-
wolves. Experience, the President says,
has demonstrated that all estimates con
cerning the probable future cost of pen.
zion list are uncertain and unreliable, and
always fall below the actual realization,
and in support Of his assertions, says:
"The chairman of the House committee
On pensions calculates that the number Of
pensioners under this bill would be 33, l05,
and the increased cost S4,767, 100; this is
upon the theory that only those who are
entirely unable to work would be its BEN
sficiaries. Such was the principle of the